Parish Life/ Volunteer

Our Lady of Peace Parish offers a variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the parish. For more information on any opportunity listed below, please contact the Parish Office at 630-323-4333.

Education

Religious Education Jeanne Waliczek 630-986-8430

Board: Advisory board of parents who collaborate with the Religious Education staff in suggesting policies for the program.

Catechist: Share your gift of faith with public school students from our parish by teaching a class once per week during the school year.

Classroom Aide: Help with enhancing existing programs. Share your time and talent at various events such as: planning for special prayers or liturgical services, Christmas programs and seasonal events.

Volunteer: Step in and teach a Religious Education class in the event of a catechist’s absence. Advance notice and lesson plans are provided.

Right of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) Deacon Larry630-323-4333 ext 20 Parishioners willing to sponsor and journey with those to be initiated into the Catholic Church at Easter.

Spiritual Growth

Deacon Pat Kenny: 630-323-4333 Ext. 19: Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) is a movement designed to bring every parishioner into a deeper and more joyful relationship with Jesus and His Church. Through the course of a renewal weekend in which you share food, fun, and fellowship with other parishioners, you have an opportunity to encounter Christ and consider becoming His disciple. The weekend is conducted by your fellow parishioners and clergy, who are anxious to share CRHP with you. See OLP website for video and brochure.

Worship

Eucharistic Adoration: Deacon Frank Vonesh 630-323-4333 ext 25 Come and pray before our Lord in the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for 1 hour each first Friday of the month.

Altar Servers: Deacon Frank Vonesh 630-323-4333 ext 25 Students who assist parish clergy as severs during Mass and who appreciate the liturgy, sacraments and worship experience.

Eucharistic Minister at Mass: Dave Bertram 630-853-5068 Assist our priests in the distribution of the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass.

Lector of the Word: Dave Bertram 630-853-5068 Prepare and proclaim the Word of God in the midst of the assembly.

Choir: John Berardi 708-828-2138

Adult Sing with other adult members of our choir during the 10:15 Mass. All vocal parts are welcome.

Joyful Song Ensemble Malinee-708-828-2138 Joyfulsongolp.wordpress.com This group of young singers ministers at our 6:30 PM Sunday Mass. They rehearse on Thursday evenings and before Mass.

Resurrection This dedicated group of singers ministers at our funeral liturgies, which are usually Monday-Saturday. The choir arrives a half hour before the Mass in order to warm-up and rehearse.

Cantor Leads the congregation in song during the celebration of the Mass.

Divine Mercy: Heidi Berardi (708) 259-8916 The Divine Mercy Feast is celebrated on the second Sunday of Easter. Our Lady of Peace Parish hosts a holy hour at 3:00pm with the intention to honor and ask for God’s mercy. There are many opportunities to assist with the Feast Day preparations. We welcome anyone interested in helping in the following areas: promotion of the devotion, set-up and clean-up of the gym and church, assistance with refreshments, greeters, and ushers.

Legion of Mary: Amelia Pecora 630-973-0488 On Fridays at 8 AM in the church hall, the Legionary meet for prayer, study, discuss reports, and to receive the week’s assigned Legionary work. The work activities include, among other things, leading a rosary at a wake or nursing home and providing transportation to parishioners in need.

Services

Make and Take a Meal: Kathy Petrak 630-910-4573 Prepare and deliver meals on a short-term basis to parishioners in crisis.

There are hungry households in Darien and in our surrounding municipalities. The Food Pantry is the pipeline between our parishioners who give, and the hungry households who need. Distribution is on Wednesdays between 9:30 and 11:00 AM.

Sacristans: Larry Krupicka 630-985-9882 Prepare and clean up the sacramental articles for celebration. Care for the condition of the entire worship space is crucial, as well as for the vestments, vessels, candles and bread and wine.

Usher: 630-323-4333 ext 17 Persons or families greet parishioners as they enter the church, assist the assembly with seating, the reception of communion and emergency needs. Ushers also take up the collection and distribution of bulletins.

Lending Closet: Dan & Mary Sackett 630-852-4330 The Lending closet is available to parishioners who are in need of canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs and transport chairs. These items are free of charge. We ask that they be returned to us when no longer needed.

Blood Drive: Rosemarie Courtney 630-964-8415 Without donors, someone in our parish community may not be able to have a much needed surgery, recover from a traumatic accident or receive dialysis treatments. The parish hopes that all who can, will share the responsibility of providing this precious resource which only one person can give to another.

Greeter Program: Pat Charnas 630-341-1782, Deb Serrao 630-963-3998 ” Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God” (Rom 15:7) Greeters serve as representatives of the faith community in welcoming parishioners and visitors to the weekend masses.

Social Committee: Kathy Wanta 630-915-6814 Men and women who work in fellowship to serve the parishioners of Our Lady of Peace through the ministry of hospitality. We sponsor two social events for the parish each year in the form of a dinner and some kind of entertainment.

Bereavement Minister: Deacon Larry Fudacz 630-323-4333 ext 20 NOT GRIEF COUNSELING. You will meet with a grieving family and help them prepare the funeral Mass for the deceased.

Organizations

Parish Council: Eric Koranteng630 776 3441 [email protected]The parish council, in collaboration with the pastor, assumes the overall well-being of the parish, present and future, through strategic planning and proposing practical solutions to the ongoing life of the parish. Members are committed to the parish as a whole, are able to attend meetings and can work collaboratively with each other and the pastor.

Holy Name Society: Luis Ferrer 630-986-0944 The Holy Name Society members of Our Lady of Peace Parish meet monthly, September through June. All men of the parish, 21 years of age and older whose membership is approved by the Reverend Pastor, who have been formally received and whose names have been inscribed in the official register, shall be members of the society.

Young Adult Ministry: Rissa Louks 630.487.1507 [email protected] Young Adult Ministry is for young adults ages 18-35ish who are interested in seeking God. It is open to all people who seek God.

Youth Ministry Coordinator: Rissa Louks 630.487.1507 [email protected] Youth Ministry is a teen-centered ministry that encourages teens to discover how a love of God will change their lives. They have fun, learn, and grow as disciples of God.